Wall element, especially a palisade

ABSTRACT

A wall component, in particular a palisade, has visible or wall surfaces disposed on opposing sides, and intermediate end faces, wherein a projecting head is formed on one of the end faces and a receptacle is formed on the other end face. The head and the receptacle engage with a receptacle and a head of a neighboring wall component when forming a wall. The wall component is characterized in that a depression is formed on a first visible or wall surface which extends through the entire length of the wall component. The peripheral surface of the head extends into the depression and the opposing second visible or wall surface is substantially flat and maps smoothly into the peripheral surface of the head.

[0001] This application is a Continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/EP00/01059 filed on Feb. 10, 2000.

[0002] The invention concerns a preferably rod-shaped call component, in particular a palisade, with visible or wall surfaces arranged on opposite sides, and intermediate end faces, wherein one of the end faces is provided with a projecting head and the other end face is provided with a receptacle, and wherein the head and the receptacle engage with a receptacle or a head of a neighboring wall component to form a wall.

[0003] The vertical burying of palisades or posts in the ground or the fining thereof in a different manner, one next to the other, to form walls has been conventional for a long time. While the palisades originally served as fortress walls, they are also used today for designing gardens and outdoor areas, e.g., for elevated garden beds, slope supports, terraces etc. The palisades are usually made from wood or concrete and are anchored in the earth with a concrete foundation. If the palisades are subjected to only little loading, it may be sufficient to merely bury them in the ground.

[0004] A wall formed from palisades, disposed one next to the other, which can either stand freely or be filled up with earth, at least on one side, is described below by way of example.

[0005] In previous times, logs were usually used for palisades which therefore had a circular cross-section. Modern palisades are mostly produced as prefabricated concrete parts, which permits adjustment of the cross-sectional shape of the palisades to the requirements. Such a palisade has visible or wall surfaces disposed on two opposing sides which, when erected, and together with the corresponding visible or wall surfaces of neighboring palisades, form the surfaces of the wall. Each end of the visible or wall surfaces of the palisade has an end face which extends substantially perpendicular to the visible or wall surfaces. When the palisades are disposed next to each other, neighboring palisades are disposed such that their facing end faces abut.

[0006] The stability of each individual palisade is effected through embedding in the ground. For a better absorption of localized forces substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall, neighboring palisades have been conventionally connected or engaged such that transverse loads which act on a palisade are transferred to neighboring palisades and absorbed by them to increase the stability of the wall.

[0007] The mutual engagement of neighboring palisades is usually achieved by engagement elements disposed on the end faces of the palisades. Both e.g. DE 297 15 696 U1 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,502,438 have proposed providing one end face with a centrally aligned head which extends substantially over the entire width of the end face and which has a partially circular convex shape and providing the opposite end face with a receptacle having the shape of a partially circular concave hollow cavity which also extends over the entire width of the end face. Since the head can be disposed in different positions within the receptacle, a joint, having a vertical joint axis, is formed between neighboring palisades which permits bending between neighboring palisades and formation of polygonally curved walls.

[0008] It has, however, turned out that the range of possible configurations of such conventional palisades is relatively limited. They also have disadvantages with regard to appearance. One reason therefor is that formation of a smooth continuous wall surface is not possible due to the head projecting on the end face, which is clearly offset on both sides with respect to the visible or wall surfaces via waists. Subdivision of the palisade wall surface into a body, a waist and a head produces a plurality of recesses on the wall surface of a palisade giving the surface an irregular appearance. Moreover, the edge for connection to base plates is not straight due to the recesses in the foot region of the palisade wall leading to gaps in the transitional region between the wall and the base area which tend to get dirty and which attract moss or weeds.

[0009] It is the underlying purpose of the invention to produce a rod-shaped wall component of the above-mentioned type, in particular in the form of a palisade, which eliminates the above-mentioned problems and whose constructive design offers the user many design possibilities for constructing a wall.

[0010] This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with a wall component or a palisade comprising the features of claim 1.

[0011] The inventive wall component is characterized in that its two visible or wall surfaces have a different design. A first visible or wall surface comprises a depression extending along the entire length of the wall component, wherein the peripheral surface of the head extends into the depression. In this fashion, the peripheral surface of the head is enlarged by the amount extending into the depression thereby permitting adjustment of the joint formed by the head and a receptacle engaging therewith, over a sufficiently large angular region.

[0012] The opposing second visible or wall surface is substantially flat and gradually maps into the peripheral surface of the head, without grooves, recesses or projections. If the head has a continuously curved peripheral surface, the second visible or wall surface preferably extends tangentially with respect to the peripheral surface of the head. Since the second visible or wall surface does not have a depression, the angular region over which the joint can be adjusted is limited such that a continuous, visually smooth wall surface can be formed on one side of a wall composed of the inventive wall components which is not interrupted by a plurality of recesses or projections. Moreover, the different designs of the two visible or wall surfaces of the wall component provide the user with considerably increased design possibilities since different wall designs can be obtained in dependence on the mutual orientation of neighboring wall components.

[0013] The wall component can be horizontally mounted rather than vertically, in particular, for forming a wall for plants or an embankment. Several wall components are thereby disposed on a base surface, preferably with their end faces defining the receptacle facing downwards, to thereby form a first layer, wherein they can be disposed either directly next to one another or at a mutual separation from one another. The receptacles of further wall components are then disposed on the upwardly facing head sections of the wall components of the first layer, thereby forming a second layer. An orientation other than vertical can be effected through adjustment of the joint formed between head and receptacle. As usual in the construction of walls, the wall components of one layer should be offset in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wall components of the layer disposed below and/or above and optionally be glued together or connected through mortar.

[0014] If there is a separation between the individual wall components of a layer, a wall for plants or an embankment wall can be easily provided with openings to permit plants to grow on the wall.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the depression is disposed substantially in the center of the first visible or wall surface.

[0016] A possible embodiment provides that the depression has a depression bottom extending substantially parallel to the second visible or wall surface and side walls which extend at an inclination thereto, of which one is part of the peripheral surface of the head. The cross-section of the depression can be substantially concave and map smoothly and continuously over into the first visible or wall surface and the peripheral surface of the head. For this reason, the first visible or wall surface does not have any shoulders, corners or edges which is advantageous in that high localized corner stresses are prevented in the wall component and dirt cannot accumulate in the corners of the first visible or wall surface. The wall component is therefore also easy to clean.

[0017] A further embodiment provides that the head and the receptacle are formed in the center of the respective end face, wherein their width preferably corresponds to the mutual separation between the two visible or wall surfaces. The heads can be larger or smaller and, in particular, the receptacle can be smaller.

[0018] The peripheral surface of the head should extend over an angular region of approximately 180° to 225°. The head can have a partially circular, convex cross-section.

[0019] Alternatively, the head can have a polygonal cross-section, in particular, in the shape of a regular polygon. In this case, the smooth continuous transition between the second visible or wall surface and the peripheral surface of the head is effected in that either one of the peripheral partial surfaces of the head is part of the second visible or wall surface or the peripheral surface of the head joins the second visible or wall surface while forming a bend. The head and receptacle can be disposed only in predetermined relative positions, but have an improved, in particular non-rotatable engagement. The partially circular embodiment of the head and the receptacle permits continuous angular adjustment between neighboring palisades.

[0020] The receptacle which is formed on the end face opposite the head, has a shape which is complementary to that of the head. The receptacle is preferably formed as a hollow cavity, which either has a partially circular concave cross-section, or a polygonal cross-section, corresponding to the configuration of the head. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle is defined by a border extending through an angular region of approximately 45° to 180° and, in particular, through 90°.

[0021] A further development of the invention provides that the end region of the visible or wall surfaces proximate the receptacle is tapered towards the center of the palisade suc: that the width of the receptacle is smaller than the mutual separation between the visible and wall surfaces. This produces a sharp edge between the receptacle and the respective visible or wall surfaces which permits a collision-free immersion into the depression in an extreme, bent orientation between two neighboring wall components. In addition, the tapering at the end of the visible or wall surfaces reduces the width of the receptacle such that neighboring wall components can be adjusted over a larger angular region. To prevent graduations or irregularities on . the visible or wall surfaces of the wall component or to at least keep them small, the tapered end regions map over into the respective visible or wall surface in a smooth, e.g. continuously curved fashion.

[0022] The visible or wall surface preferably has a convexly curved section extending from its tapered end region which continuously maps into the concavely curved depression which, in turn, joins with the convexly curved peripheral surface of the head. The peripheral surface of the head changes smoothly and continuously over into the second visible or wall surface, whose receptacle-sided end smoothly maps into the tapered end region. In this fashion, the surface of the wall component extending between the two edges of the tapered end sections, i.e. the two visible or wall surfaces and the headsided end face, is free of shoulders or bends and travels in a steady, continuous smooth manner, thereby preventing localized corner stresses and considerably reducing accumulation of dirt.

[0023] As an alternative, the tapered end regions can map into the visible or wall surface through formation of a small bend.

[0024] The wall component is usually made from concrete and has a substantially constant cross-section throughout its length, wherein it may or may not be armored depending on the loads which must be accommodated.

[0025] If the construction height is correspondingly small, the wall component can be alternatively used as a bordering stone for forming the border of a lawn, vegetable garden, or flower patch. To border a lawn or garden area, the circumference of at least one partial region of the area is bordered with an edge formed of stones disposed in a row defining a clear border. In case of a lawn border, which is below described by way of example, the upper side of the lawn border is substantially at the height of the lawn surface to allow side wheels of a lawn mower to be moved along the lawn border to facilitate cutting of the grass in the edge region of the lawn.

[0026] The inventive bordering stone has a front surface, a rear surface disposed on the opposite side, and intermediate end faces, wherein one of the end faces has a projecting head and the other end face has a receptacle, wherein the head and the receptacle engage with a receptacle or a head of a neighboring bordering stone when forming a lawn or patch border The bordering stone is characterized in that the rear surface has a depression extending over the entire height of the bordering stone and the peripheral surface of the head extends into the depression. The front surface is substantially flat and smoothly maps into the peripheral surface of the head. This increases the peripheral surface of the head by the amount projecting into the depression thereby permitting adjustment of the joint, which is formed by the head and a receptacle engaging therewith, over a sufficiently large angular region, wherein a bend between neighboring bordering stones of 90° can be effected. To obtain as continuous a flat surface as possible on the front side of a lawn border facing the lawn area, the front side of the bordering stone is substantially flat and maps smoothly and continuously into the peripheral surface of the head without the formation of grooves, recesses or projections.

[0027] Further embodiments of the bordering stone can be extracted from the above embodiments of a palisade which differ only in overall height.

[0028] Further details and features of the invention can be extracted from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawing.

[0029]FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a rod-shaped wall component in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0030]FIG. 2 shows two wall components according to FIG. 1 used as palisades, in mutual engagement and straight alignment;

[0031]FIG. 3 shows different wall components according to FIG. 1 used as a palisade with mutual engagement thereby forming angles;

[0032]FIG. 4 shows various wall components according to FIG. 1, used in horizontal alignment for forming a wall for plants; and

[0033]FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through a rod-shaped wall component according to a second embodiment.

[0034] A wall component shown in cross-section in FIG. 1 is made from concrete and has a substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. It has a first visible or wall surface 11 and, on the opposing side, a second visible or wall surface 12 which is substantially flat. Opposing end faces 13 and 14 extend between the two visible or wall surfaces 11, 12 at their lateral ends.

[0035] The right end face 13 of FIG. 1 is formed as a head 15 having a partially circular cross-section whose center lies approximately in the center of mutual separation between the two visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12. In the embodiment shown, the radius of the head 15 corresponds to substantially half the width of the wail component i.e. half the separation between the two visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12, wherein the head 15 and its peripheral surface 15 a map smoothly and substantially tangentially into the flat second visible or wall surface.

[0036] The first visible or wall surface 11 has a substantially central depression defining a depression bottom 17 a extending substantially parallel to the second visible or wall surface 11, and with inclined side walls 17 b and 17 c, wherein the side wall 17 c is simultaneously part of the peripheral surface 15 a of the head 15. The transitions between the side walls 17 b and 17 c and the depression bottom 17 a are rounded such that the depression 17 has a concave cross-section which maps smoothly, and at one side, monotonically into the peripheral surface 15 a of the head. In this fashion, the peripheral surface 15 a of the head reaches into the depression 17 and extends over an angular region of more than 180°, and of approximately 225° in the embodiment shown

[0037] The opposite end face 14 has a receptacle 16 formed as hollow cavity whose radius of curvature corresponds to the radius of the head 15 and whose concave peripheral surface extends over an opening angle of approximately 90°.

[0038] The two visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12 are tapered in their end regions 11 a, 12 a proximate the receptacle 16 through continuous curvature of the visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12 towards the center of the palisade 10 such that the width of the receptacle 16 is slightly less, e.g. by 10%, than the mutual separation between the visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12. The corner region between the respective visible or wall surface 11 and 12 and the concave peripheral surface of the receptacle 16 defines a sharp edge. The first visible or wall surface 11 therefore has a section 11 b of convexly curved cross-section starting from its tapered end region 11 a, which continuously maps into the concavely curved depression 17 which, in turn, joins with the convexly curved peripheral surface 15 a of the head. The continuously convexly curved peripheral surface of the head maps smoothly and continuously into the second visible or wall surface 12 which, in turn, changes smoothly over, in a continuously curved fashion, into the tapered end region 12 a on its receptacle-sided end.

[0039]FIG. 2 shows that several wall components 10, serving as palisades, are disposed next to one another to form a palisade wall, wherein the head of a palisade engages in the receptacle of the neighboring palisade and the facing end faces of the neighboring palisades abut, thereby forming a substantially flat surface on the front side which is only interrupted by the tapering of the end regions 11 a, 12 a.

[0040] Since the receptacle 16 only extends through an angular region of approximately 90°, whereas the head 15 has a peripheral surface extending through a region of approximately 225°, neighboring palisades can be disposed in any orientation with respect to one another, throughout an angular range of approximately 135°, wherein each head lies in a receptacle. In this fashion, bends between neighboring palisades can be realized over a large angular region. FIG. 3 shows two possible bends between two neighboring palisades. The upper palisade 10′ shows the position of maximum bend in which the sharp corner formed between the visible or wall surface 12 and the receptacle 16 is disposed in the depression 17 of the other palisade 10. The further bent palisade 10″ is disposed in the other extreme position in which the corner lies between the first visible or wall surface 11 and the receptacle 16 at the transition region between the peripheral surface of the head 15 and the first visible or wall surface 11 of the other palisade 10.

[0041]FIG. 4 shows a section of a wall for plants or an embankment which consists of several wall components 10 disposed in vertical orientation. In the embodiment shown, three wall components 10 are disposed on a base surface with their end faces having the receptacle facing downward, thereby forming a first layer. The wall components 10 are oriented in their longitudinal direction and are disposed to define a residual gap 18. The receptacles of several wall components are disposed on the upwardly facing head sections of the wall components 10 of the first layers thereby forming a second layer, wherein the wall components 10 of the second layer bridge the gaps 18 between the wall components 10 of the first layer thereby defining intermediate gaps 18′. The two layers must not be disposed exactly vertically, since adjustment of the joint formed between the head of the wall components of the first layer and the receptacle of the wall components of the second layer permits mutual angular adjustment or tilting of the layers. This embodiment shows a further wall component 10 of a third layer which again bridges the gap 18′ between neighboring wall components of the second layer. In this fashion, a wall for plants or an embankment is formed with openings or gaps 18,18′ which can either have a vertical orientation or be polygonally curved through adjustment of the joints between the individual layers of the wall components.

[0042]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a cross-section of the wall component which only differs from the configuration of FIG. 1 in that the depression 19 has a different shape. The bottom 17 a of that depression 19 extends substantially parallel to the second visible and wall surface 12 and, on the side facing the receptacle 16, joins with a side wall 17 b to define a bend. The side wall 17 b and the second visible or wall surface 12 form a corner.

[0043] The other side wall 17 c is also part of the peripheral surface 15 a of the head 15 and is convexly curved in correspondence thereto. 

1. A palisade comprising visible or wall surfaces disposed on opposing sides, and intermediate end faces wherein one of the end faces has a projecting head and the other end face has a receptacle, wherein the head and the receptacle engage with a receptacle or head of a neighboring wall component when forming a wall, wherein a depression is formed on one first visible or wall surface which extends along the entire length of the wall component, and the peripheral surface of the head extends into the depression, wherein the opposing second visible or wall surface is substantially flat and smoothly maps into the peripheral surface of the head, wherein the first visible or wall surface has a convex curved section extending from its end region proximate the receptacle which continuously maps into the concave curved depression which, in turn, continuously joins with the convex curved peripheral surface of the head.
 2. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the depression is disposed substantially in the center of the first visible or wall surface.
 3. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the depression has a groove bottom which extends substantially parallel to the second visible or wall surface, and inclined side walls one of which is part of the peripheral surface of the head.
 4. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the depression has a substantially concave cross-section.
 5. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the depression maps smoothly and continuously into the first visible or wall surface and the peripheral surface of the head.
 6. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral surface of the head extends over an angular region of approximately 180° to 225°.
 7. The wall component according to claim 17 wherein the head has a partially circular convex cross-section.
 8. The wall component according to claim 7, wherein the second visible or wall surface tangentially maps into the peripheral surface of the head.
 9. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the head has a polygonal cross-section, in particular the shape of a regular polygon.
 10. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the head and the receptacle are formed in the center of the respective end face.
 11. The wall component according to claims 1, wherein the receptacle is a hollow cavity.
 12. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a partially circular concave cross-section.
 13. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a polygonal cross-section.
 14. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle extends through an angle of approximately 90°.
 15. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein the visible or wall surfaces are tapered towards the center of the wall component in their end region proximate the receptacle, wherein the width of the receptacle is less than the mutual separation between the visible or wall surfaces.
 16. The wall component according to claim 15, wherein the tapered end regions curve into the visible or wall surfaces.
 17. The wall component according to claim 15, wherein the tapered end regions curve into the visible or wall surface.
 18. The wall component according to claim 1, wherein it is made from concrete. 